SMU Women’s Golf Storms Into NCAA Championship

DALLAS - SMU women’s golf is back on the NCAA Championship stage, and this group isn’t arriving as a feel-good underdog. The Mustangs are headed to Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California, with enough firepower to make serious noise from May 22-27.

This is SMU’s third NCAA Championship trip in four seasons and the ninth in program history. The format is ruthless ... 30 teams open with three rounds of stroke play, the field gets trimmed to 15 after 54 holes, and only the top eight after 72 holes advance to match play.

READ MORE: SMU Lands Ole Miss Transfer Brooklyn Olson

That means there’s no room for a slow start.

The Mustangs earned their spot the hard way, winning an NCAA Regional for the second time in program history. Even more impressive, all five SMU players finished inside the top 13.

That’s not a fluke. That’s a lineup catching fire at exactly the right time.

Mackenzie Lee remains the headliner. She owns 13 SMU records, carries a 71.48 career scoring average and recently passed 500 career birdies.

Lee also earned All-ACC honors for the fourth straight season, joined the United States Arnold Palmer Cup team and sits No. 43 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

But this isn’t a one-player operation.

Emily Odwin has become one of the best stories in college golf. The Barbados native ranks second in SMU career scoring average at 72.11, owns 14 career top-10 finishes and became the first Barbados-born golfer to play in the U.S. Women’s Open.

Her 71.47 season scoring average ranks fourth in program history.

Celine Chen is peaking, too. She finished tied for third at the NCAA Regional and owns a 72.18 scoring average this season. Grace Jin, the 2025 Texas Women’s Player of the Year, has brought instant toughness after transferring from Sam Houston.

Freshman Kirra St-Laurent just delivered a third-place regional finish, proving she’s not scared of the moment.

That depth is why SMU is dangerous.

The Mustangs finished 11th at NCAAs three years ago, and the program’s best NCAA finish remains fourth in 1983. They also won the 1979 AIAW national title before the NCAA era.

READ MORE: SMU Star Will Sides Ends Season With Record Run

Now Lauren Mason’s team has a chance to write a new chapter.

At La Costa, SMU doesn’t just need stars. It needs five players who can punch back for four straight days. This lineup has already shown it can do exactly that.

Join Our Roundtable Community For Free!

Share your takes, connect with our Roundtable writers, and talk sports with fellow fans. Download the free Roundtable App today and stay closer to the conversation.